Maxwell School News and Commentary

Keith Bybee, professor of political science, talked about finding common ground in our public discourse, on PBS's public affairs program The Open Mind.

According to Leonard Burman, professor of public administration and international affairs, "Trump’s 'tax reform plan' isn’t tax reform and it isn’t a plan. To borrow an analogy from the president’s favorite sport, he should take a mulligan and swing again at tax reform after he’s brought on a tax policy team and they’ve had a chance to do their homework."

"A failure to register, or making a false statement, or an omission of a material fact in connection with registration is also unlawful, if it was willfully done. If it was willfully done, he could face either civil or criminal penalties," assesses William C. Banks, professor of public administration and international affairs.

“I think at the end of the day, you’re not going to see either the Trump or the House GOP tax plan. It will look a little more like George W. Bush’s 2001 tax bill—mostly just rate cuts,” says Leonard Burman, Paul Volcker Chair in Behavioral Economics.

“When you want to message and communicate with new donors, you want to demonstrate very quickly that you’re using the money efficiently and effectively and it’s really focused on a goal,” says Dean David Van Slyke. “And then you come back…and you say, ‘Look, we think we’re in a real battle and we think we’re making progress.'”

"The relationship between scientists and government is arguably at a low point today. But that’s the culmination of a trend that had been building for some time," says Harry Lambright, professor of public administration and international affairs.

"Widespread public pressure can influence the U.S. Congress so that it corrects the unwise policies pursued by President Trump’s administration," writes Louis Kriesberg, professor emeritus of sociology. He suggests alternatives such as pursuing non-coercive inducements over military coercion, strengthening ties with Muslims, and understanding opposing perspectives.